<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/conor-mcgregor" rel="" target="" title="Conor McGregor"><span>Conor McGregor</span></a><span> on Thursday lost his legal appeal against a civil court's </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/conor-mcgregor-must-pay-250k-to-woman-who-says-he-raped-her-civil-jury-rules/20ff51fd-47ee-46cc-886d-d28af127e384" rel="" target="" title="finding that he sexually assaulted a woman"><span>finding that he sexually assaulted a woman</span></a><span> at a Dublin hotel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In November a jury at the High Court in Dublin found McGregor liable for assaulting Nikita Hand, who says he "brutally raped and battered" her in a hotel penthouse in 2018.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was ordered to pay Hand almost €250,000 ($400,000), as well as about €1.3 million ($2.3 million) in legal costs.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/ghislaine-maxwell-updates-donald-trump-admin-official-denies-clemency-is-currently-on-the-table/ac152bff-24da-4152-a078-ba952eb602e5"><strong><span>Trump administration official denies Ghislaine Maxwell clemency is currently on the table</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hand, 35, successfully sued McGregor in civil court after prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McGregor alleged that Hand fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/conor-mcgregor-loses-appeal-against-civil-jurys-finding-he-sexually-assaulted-a-woman/e8cf1075-198b-4af4-8a86-9ed35c8eec68" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He launched an appeal, but at a hearing earlier this month his lawyer unexpectedly withdrew a request to introduce new evidence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Three appeals court judges in Dublin on Thursday dismissed the appeal "in its entirety."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hand was in court for the ruling, but McGregor was not.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 37-year-old fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime in the ring, has become known for anti-immigration statements and criticism of Irish politicians. He has flirted with the idea of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/conor-mcgregor-ufc-legend-announces-ireland-presidential-run-on-instagram/a4c5878f-9627-4d3f-ab49-a171cca86bda" rel="" target="" title="running for president of Ireland"><span>running for president of Ireland</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>US President Donald Trump, a UFC fan,</span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-conor-mcgregor-in-white-house-for-st-patricks-day/f535d142-9501-460f-a7c4-d587d0b4ebd3" rel="" target="" title=" invited McGregor to the White House to mark St. Patrick's Day"><span> invited McGregor to the White House to mark St. Patrick's Day</span></a><span> in March.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McGregor also faces a lawsuit in Florida for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in the bathroom of the Kaseya Centre, home arena of the Miami Heat, during a 2023 NBA finals game with the Denver Nuggets.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Readers seeking support can contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028. </span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>In an emergency, dial Triple Zero (000).</span></strong></em></div></div>